There seems to be no words that could ever make sense of the tragic loss of Jill. I still can’t or rather don’t want to believe it’s true. I instead turn my words to sharing with you all just how wonderful my best friend Jill was and a little about our years of friendship.
Jill first came to Taranganba State School in Grade 5. At the time it was pretty much just Shona and I as a little duo. When Jill first came along, we weren’t too sure about her, but she quickly won us over and our duo soon became a trio. For the remainder of our primary school years the three of us were inseparable. We had countless sleepovers at each other’s houses and three-way chats on the landline. We weren’t the most popular kids at school by any means, (we were proud ‘Library Monitors’ for a time) but we had each other and that was enough. Fun Fact: For some reason I only ever called Jill her full name Jillian when we were young. I remember her telling me years later that I was one of the few friends who could get away with calling her Jillian.
When it came time for high school Shona & I went to Yeppoon State High and Jill was bound for Ursula’s. There was only a handful of kids from Taranganba who went to Ursula’s, and I remember thinking how nervous I would be if I was entering high school without at least one of my best friends by my side. I need not have worried about Jill though, it seemed overnight she found her confidence and soon made countless new friends, a trait that would continue throughout her life. Fun Fact: It might surprise you with all her travelling, but back in the day I remember Jill used to get home sick on primary school camps.
Being young and at different schools, it would have been easy for us to drift apart as what happens to many young friendships, but not us, if anything we just became closer throughout the years. Jill was a true and loyal friend who always made an effort. No matter where Jill was in life with all her travelling, and my god how she loved to travel and see the world, her dedication to our friendship and to all her friendships were unwavering.
How did our Santa photo’s start? Way back in 1999 out first year of high school, Bron (Mrs Stevens to me) took Jill and I on a shopping trip to Rocky. There at Kmart Plaza was a Santa Photo stand. We got our first ever Santa photo together and made a pact to do one every year. Neither one of us could of predicted just how long we would keep this tradition going. Between me moving to the Gold Coast and later to Mackay and all of Jill’s global adventures; logistically it was not always easy to make it happen, but we always figured it out even if it was a quick visit to one another as they often were. As the years went by it kind of became famous (at least between our family and friends) and people would always comment on it. My Dad always tells me how he remembers having a conversation with Bronwyn where she said that she thought we would still be getting a Santa photo when we are two little old ladies. Something that will now sadly never happen. We did in fact though keep our tradition going for 22 YEARS! She was the only person that could convince me (at least one year) to wear a Santa outfit in a shopping centre (which she cheekily returned for a refund after we got our photo). The last couple of years had not been kind to us, due to covid, Jill was unable to come home for Xmas, so we were unable to get our photo in person, but we still did our Santa photo’s in our own quirky way. Jill was due to come to Mackay next month where we had planned for our big Santa photo reunion, which we were both excited for and sadly will now never happen. I don’t think I’ll ever think of Christmas and not think of Jill and smile and probably shed some tears. Fun Fact: Our Santa photos started out FREE and 50c for an additional print. I was always in charge of picking up the prints because I was the more responsible one - the one year she was in charge to do this it was on a floppy disk - yes a floppy disk - and she lost it. To this day I have never seen that photo Santa Photo’s these days cost around $50!
What else could I say about Jill that hasn’t already been said? She was adventurous, outgoing and confident. I was in admiration of her bravery and passion to travel to new places and how quickly she was able to make friends. And not just holiday friends, life long friends who I know she considered family. She was beautiful, inside and out. My god she was intelligent - she was an amazing teacher. I can only imagine her as being the fun teacher ‘Miss S’ that everyone dreams of having. The impact she would of had on all the children she has taught over the years would be immeasurable. She was not the most punctual person. In my experience if she said 10am in Jill time that probably meant 11am. She was always up for a good party theme - Bright & Shiny, 80’s Prom, Pirates to name a few. She was fun. She loved her little rescue dog Marley, what was supposed to only be a fostering situation, no surprise to anyone, soon turned into an adoption. She was always trying new things and there was a never dull moment in her life, from her 101 things to do list (101 to outdo her sister’s 100) to her Frock Friday’s.
Second to none was the love for her family. Her parents Vic & Bron were her absolute pillars of strength and support. An amazing person can only come from having amazing parents. More than just siblings Kelly, Megan & David were her best friends too. She loved each and every one of her family members so much. My thoughts are always with them and my heart breaks with them too. It goes without saying that I am here for each and every one of Jill's family and friends not only during these difficult times, but always.
There seems to be not enough words to describe Jill or list all her qualities, it would be like trying to fit the ocean into a glass. But to wrap up this post, Jill was an amazing friend and an amazing person. She lived her life to the fullest and yet had so much more life to live. I was in awe of the life she lived and I’m pretty sure I told her that on more than one occasion, but I still wish I had of told her more. It’s hard to think that I will never get to see or talk with her again but just consider myself so lucky that she came into my life and that I have so many memories to cherish and to share.
I love you Jill and will forever miss you xxx
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